I hope it's just this horrible humidity getting him down and he improves when the weather smartens up.
So while Rocky's back end relaxed some since our vet visit a little over a week ago, the LP has progressed and he cannot get around the block without panting. I've left a message with the vet to see if I am right to stop the walks and just putter on the grassy spot across the street from now on. This was an issue on morning it wasn't super hot (though it's generally humid). The panting isn't just panting panting, it's very deep and starts suddenly. He recovers quickly if we stop the walk as it starts.
I am working VERY hard to not let this bring me down too much. Rock is happy I think. To him 5-10 mins sniffies and he is ready to come in so maybe it doesn't matter to him if we actually walk far or how long we are out if he got some good sniffies, and did his business. (other than for maintaining muscle mass and ability...). He can still chill outside too (if not directly in the sun - the backyard is shady sorta late afternoon thru the evening so that works). OH I do this because he doesn't walk in the backyard nor does he do his business there.
I am also working very hard not to think of "tomorrow". Of how fast this is declining and what that means for the coming weeks. Rocky is happy and seems content so - that is where I need to keep my mind.
So let this be a "enjoy what we can still do" post. Not a poor Rocky post.
Ivy
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I hope it's just this horrible humidity getting him down and he improves when the weather smartens up.
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Annette47 (07-17-2017)
Oh, no. I hope Nancy's thought is correct...that he'll seem better when the weather changes.
Sending all good thoughts for you and Rocky!!!
I doubt it. The decline has been on coolish mornings (16-17 deg celcius). I mean maybe cold weather can help but by then he'll have declined again so I am not expecting any improvement (that's a good 7-9 weeks before nights cool off more than that)
Ivy
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Oh, rats. It's good that he seems to be less concerned by this turn of events than you are. Definitely a "live in the moment" situation...tough to try to do that, I know.
I asked the vet AGAIN about more pain management and he just said to stick to gabapentin. Which he is already on and didn't answer my question. But his body is more "loose" since the visit so I really doubt it is related to that. This is classic LP shit. I am thinking it's the strain of exercise now causing the panting. This is where many get the surgery, so the dog can go for walks.
If I think too much I get pretty depressed so again, keeping this focused on Rocky and how he seems to be doing - and he is the same ol' same ol'.
Lots of dogs don't go for walks right.
Ivy
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July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.
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Annette47 (07-17-2017), MontananDakota (07-17-2017), POPTOP (07-17-2017), Tanya (07-17-2017)
Thanks.
And I do bring him for sniffies and puttering across the street. I'll try do that that more often if it's for 10mins (or less in the heat). and we can spend some time "chillin"in the yard. so say 3-4 sniffie outings of 5 minutes over the day (totally 20 mins? maybe more)
It seems to be that to HIM it doesn't matter if he went for a long walk, or just back and forth for sniffies across the street, he seems to react to it the same. He saw bunnies, moved his legs, sniffed new smells. be it for 5 minutes or 20mins, it doesn't seem to REALLY matter? He is ready to go in when he's done.
And I work his mind as much as I can thru feeding and stuff. He moves around quite a bit indoors following me.
Ivy
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MontananDakota (07-17-2017)
Charlotte K. (07-19-2017)
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